Princess of Vers
Part Seven
The year of 2003
"I will not have that monstrous woman and her disgusting child in my dwellings!" Rayregalia roared.
"Father, do not speak of Sofelia and Lemrina that way! I don't care what you think, those two are precious to me!" Gilzeria argued.
"You don't care what I think? I don't second guess myself, Gilzeria. You and Clarilla will have a successful marriage and raise Asseylum without that woman and her child!" Rayreglia paused, to Gilzeria's fear. "I will have them executed." Gilzeria held back tears. He opened the embroidered twin doors and slammed them closed, alarming the servants. Outside waited, Sofelia Envers, Gilzeria's beloved and the woman whom he was having a extracurricular relationship with. Gilzeria locked his fingers with hers and wept. Sofelia gasped softly and held him tightly.
"What happened?" she softly whispered, her hand combing over Gilzeria's blonde hair. He gave a shaky breath.
"Y-you're to be executed." He sighed. "Along with Lemrina," he explained. Sofelia kept a straight face, her heart dropping like a boulder.
"You have to spare Lemrina's life, Gilzeria...Let me go in her place," Sofelia murmured. Gilzeria looked up at her stunning face, awestruck. He twirled his finger in her hair, admiring the brilliant color and it's glow. Sophelia smiled and placed a hand on Gilzeria's hand. "You can't tell Clarilla. She'll be overjoyed," Sophelia bantered. Gilzeria chuckled.
"I won't." He smiled. "Let's go see Lemrina..." Gilzeria began to walk to Princess Lemrina's chamber holding Sophelia's hand. As they approached her door, Gilzeria opened the door to reveal Clarilla speaking to Lemrina. She immediately stopped and smiled. Gilzeria frowned and released Sophelia's hand. He ignored Clarilla's flirts and knelt down to Lemrina's height.
"What are you doing, Gilzeria? Get up from the ground! Leave her alone she's fine!" Clarilla shouted. Gilzeria turned and glared at his wife.
"Clarilla Allusia, you don't know how fast I can strip you from your royal position..." As he said the words, Clarilla silenced. Sofelia shyly looked at the wall, ensuring to not make eye contact. Clarilla approached Sophelia and lifted her chin, examining her features.
"You disgusting half-Terran," she whispered. "At least you have some Versian blood flowing through your veins." Clarilla smirked and released her. "You're like a centaur; half human, half animal," Clarilla spat.
"That's enough, Clarilla. Leave my beloved alone, she's the true Empress of Vers.." Gilzeria commanded. Clarilla gasped and turned to her husband, her blonde hair in motion with her body.
"How dare you compare the Versian throne to a filthy Terran like her?" Clarilla exclaimed. Gilzeria became furious.
"CLARILLA!" Lemrina hid behind her Father's shadow. Clarilla spotted her and had a chance to strike.
"And that..child. That filthy child you call a Princess! Gilzeria, how could you be so naive?" Clarilla insulted.
Gilzeria struggled to remain calm. "Do not insult me or my family.."
"Your family?" she responded. "Asseylum and I are your family! Not these Terrans!" Gilzeria couldn't endure anymore of Clarilla's insults.
"Clarilla, I am growing tired of your insults to Sophelia and Lemrina for years now. We're getting a divorce as soon as possible," Gilzeria announced. Sophelia and Clarilla both gasped in unison.
"B-but that means th—"
"Your reign as Empress of Vers will end." Gilzeria cleared his throat. "I will take Sophelia as my wife and she will be Empress," he announced. Sofelia gave Gilzeria a puzzled look. He smiled at her in response. Lemrina looked up at her father, her short lavender hair and large cerulean eyes looking up at him. "Let's go Lemrina," Gilzeria said, picking up his daughter. He held hands with Sophelia and walked out the room, leaving Clarilla in her bitterness.
Sophelia looked up to Gilzeria.
"What you said—"
"I wasn't lying." Gilzeria caressed Sophelia's salmon pink hair. "I'm going to make you my Empress, I don't care what Father thinks." Sophelia smiled.
"I'm glad."
Two years later, 2005
Princess Lemrina frowned into the mirror. She examined her black dress and her white stockings.
"Would you like a bow in your hair, Princess Lemrina? I think it'll suit you we—" Five-year old Lemrina glared at her handmaiden.
"Mommy is going to die today. I don't want a bow. Today is a sad day," the young Princess said, spinning on her heel and walking out the door. Lemrina walked the corridors, making her way to her Father's chambers. As she walked, she noticed the chefs, maids, servants, counts and countesses, viscounts and viscountesses. Everyone in the castle were in pessimistic spirits. Lemrina continued on her way, she noticed a pair of boots in her way. When she looked up and saw Count Saazbaum, her favorite out of all of the nobles. They both looked at each other with poker faces.
"Would you like some sweets, your Highness?" he asked, continuing to keep a straight face. Lemrina stumbled, to the Count's alarm. He held her arms. "Are you alright?" Saazbaum asked.
"Yes, I'm okay." Lemrina looked at Saazbaum's stern face. "Saazbaum..is that your last name?" the Princess questioned. Count Saazbaum gave a weak smile.
"Yes."
"What's your first name?" Lemrina asked, her face immediately lighting up with anticipation. Saazbaum knelt down to her level. He motioned her to come closer.
"You can't tell anyone you hear?" he whispered. Lemrina nodded. "It's..." Lemrina's eyes widened. "Frederick," Saazbaum whispered. Lemrina gasped.
"Does anyone else know?" she asked.
"Your Father does. That's it," Saazbaum replied. Lemrina nodded. She smiled.
"I have to go see Father, Freddy. Bye-bye!" Saazbaum stood and chuckled.
"Alright, little duckling, go run along now..." he smiled as he watched her run to her Father's chambers. "She's going to become a great person," he mumbled, as he continued to walk down the corridor.
Lemrina hurried to her Father's door. She knocked a special knock so whenever she does, he'll know it's her. As she heard footsteps, Lemrina grew anxious. As the door opened, she looked up and saw nothing. She then looked eye-level and there was her sister, Asseylum Vers Allusia. Lemrina frowned. "Where's Father?"
"I'm right here," a stern voice said. Her Father's footsteps echoed throughout his chambers. Asseylum motioned for Lemrina to come in. She closed the door. Gilzeria examined Lemrina's attire. "Good, we're all here. I have something to tell you two before we depart for the ceremony." Asseylum and Lemrina cocked their heads, their interest growing. Gilzeria sighed and stooped down to the Princess's eye level. "Asseylum Vers Allusia, Lemrina Vers Envers, you two realize that you have different last names. Do you know why?" Gilzeria asked. Asseylum stepped up.
"I know! Our mother's are different!" she said. Gilzeria nodded.
"Now, both of your mother's are to be..." he paused.
"Executed?" Lemrina finished.
"Yes." Gilzeria sighed. Lemrina felt tears well up in her eyes.
"Mommy is a good person, Daddy! She loved me and Seylum, she gave us kisses at night, she played with us!" Lemrina shouted. "Why does she have to die?" Gilzeria held back tears.
"I-I don't know.." Asseylum furrowed her brow at her sister's comment.
"My mother...she's mean to people. One day I saw her beat a servant with a cane," Asseylum admitted. "I-I don't want to be like my mother, Clarilla. I want to be like Sophelia, Lemrina's mommy!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah and Clarilla only loves Daddy because she can be Empress," Lemrina said. Gilzeria nodded.
"Nonetheless, I need you two to be strong. It's okay to cry, but try not to or Daddy will cry too, okay?" Lemrina and Asseylum nodded.
"We love you, Daddy.." Lemrina said, hugging her Father.
"Yeah.." Asseylum said, joining her sister. Gilzeria picked up Asseylum and Lemrina and opened the door. They walked down the halls, all of the staff kneeling in their path. Gilzeria walked with a head looking directly forward. As he carried his daughters, the depth of his stomach grew sick as he saw the double doors of the ceremony's entrance approaching. Asseylum and Lemrina's faces were blank and stern, even though their hearts were like glass. As the double doors opened, everyone in the crowd looked back at the remaining family and many began to weep. Gilzeria kept a stern look, his eyes looking to his beautiful wife, Sophelia and his crooked ex-wife, Clarilla.
Lemrina, Asseylum, and Gilzeria stood at a stage, watching the execution come into play. The knights prepared the two ropes and the stool. The two women were escorted to their ends, that stool. As one foot was placed in front of the other, Sophelia's mind replayed the moments with her daughter, Lemrina while Clarilla's mind filled with memories of her power and wealth. The masked knight came unto the middle of the stage, while two other knights tied the ropes to Sophelia and Clarilla's necks.
"Clarilla Amy Allusia, former Empress of Vers, charged for attempt of regicide and treason. Let justice be done, though the Heaven's fall..." With a snap of a finger, the stool was kicked away left with Clarilla to hang from the rope. Asseylum and Lemrina turned away and Gilzeria closed his eyes and sighed. His torture has only begun.
Sophelia, looked to Gilzeria and smiled as the knight announced her crimes. "Empress Sophelia Vers Envers, Empress of the Vers Empire, charged for harassment and treason. Let justice be done, though the Heaven's fall..." As Sophelia's stool was prepared to be kicked, Lemrina ran across the stage and fell to her Mother's feet. Asseylum joined her, sobbing.
"Mother!" Lemrina yelped. "Mother, don't leave me here! I don't have anything else if you go! Please! Let her stay alive! I love her!" Lemrina pleaded. Asseylum joined Lemrina's pleas.
"Yes! Though she was not my birth mother, Empress Sophelia is my mother! Don't let her die, please! Prison or some kind of alternative!" The knights looked among each other. They looked to Gilzeria. He came to the middle of the stage.
"Empress Sophelia Vers Envers will be charged with life in prison, rather than execution," Gilzeria announced to the noble crowd. Count Saazbaum and Viscountess Orlane held hands and smiled as they saw the two daughters of Gilzeria rejoice. The crowd of nobles joined the celebration and clapped their hands. Suddenly, a the double doors from the back opened to reveal Rayregalia Vers Rayvers.
"I object!" he boomed. Everyone gasped. "Knights, seize him in the name of Rayregalia Vers Rayvers and execute that woman!" The knights immediately obeyed, kicking the stool of Sophelia causing her to kick her legs violently. She looked to Gilzeria and her daughters.
"Thank...you.. G-good..bye..." She said peacefully. She smiled then closed her eyes, her smile fading. Gilzeria wailed a loud cry, causing the Counts to go into a ruckus and the Countesses to draw weapons. Viscountess Orlane cursed Rayregalia, silenced by Saazbaum. Lemrina wept along with Asseylum. The ceremonial chambers turned into a fiasco.
"Daddy!" Lemrina cried as she tried to release the knight's grasp on her Father. Gilzeria managed to look at his daughters.
"Find Count Saazbaum, Lemrina! Asseylum, find with Count Cruhteo!"
The two Princesses lifted their dresses and rushed to the specified people. Lemrina panicked as Count Saazbaum led her into his landing castle, but they departed Vers and found safety. Later, they return and Lemrina continues to be well. Everything changes when she got her wheelchair and could not walk. For many years, the two sisters lived in disharmony. When Slaine Troyard had arrived, Asseylum recovered from Sophelia's death until her Father's death from Heaven's Fall. Lemrina, on the other hand, lived in the protection of Count Saazbaum until she was 16 years of age. She had never fully recovered from both her parent's deaths, until now.